Sigh, remember the good times before this? Pic via Guardian.
No standard news roundup today, because this is pretty much the only bit of Arsenal news out there on the interwebs. But oh boy, is this news that has made me happy.
Holland manager Bert van Marwijk has stated that striker Robin van Persie could be fit to return to action by the start of the month of April, therefore being eligible for Arsenal's final six matches of the season. During that stretch, they play two of their toughest remaining fixtures, Tottenham Hotspur at White Hart Lane and Manchester City at the Emirates, plus at earliest, the second leg of a potential Champions League Quarterfinal (of course, they must beat Porto first to even think about that).
Arsenal have maintained thus far that van Persie's return would be at the "end of April" at the earliest and even that will only happen if rehabilitation goes perfectly.
"I spoke to him on the phone last week and he is improving all the time and feeling better," van Marwijk said. "You can hear it in his voice that he feels he is improving. I hope that he will play at the beginning of April and he feels this may be possible."
Arsenal scored 55 goals across 19 games in all competitions before van Persie was injured on international duty in mid-November (2.9 goals pre game). In 22 games since, the Gunners have scored 33 (1.5 goals per game).
[Guardian, ESPN Soccernet, Daily Mirror, Daily Mail]
[Guardian, ESPN Soccernet, Daily Mirror, Daily Mail]
Hm, wasn't Arsenal really pissed off at Holland for completely misstating the extent of van Persie's injury in the first place? To wit: "Initially, the Dutch FA said it was a small problem and Robin called me to see if he could go and see this Serbian wonder doctor and it was OK. It was only when he came back here that we realised there was much more damage." [http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2009/dec/12/arsenal-holland-legal-action-van-persie]
ReplyDeleteAfter all the ups and downs of this season, I won't believe anything until it's coming straight out of the mouth of the Disappointed One himself.
Yeah, Arsene wanted to sue the Dutch FA at one point.
ReplyDeleteOh, that's what that link says anyway, isn't it?
ReplyDelete"If you ask me is it the beginning of April, I would say categorically no because he has not started any real fitness work yet." --Wenger, last Friday.
ReplyDeleteI feel like this Dutch quote is just them trying to save their own asses at this point...like all "oops Arsenal, sorry for ruining your season, we will pretend it is all right now?"
ReplyDeleteGrr. I do not have a high opinion of the Dutch FA.
I don't doubt that van Persie will play again before the season is over. He just probably won't be back for Wolves on April 3 like some people are starting to guess.
ReplyDelete